Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla inaugurated the 1st North East Waree Leeba Festival 2026 in Imphal, urging communities to safeguard the state’s cultural identity, heritage, and oral storytelling traditions to protect their distinct historical legacy.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday underscored the vital necessity of preserving and safeguarding the state’s cultural identity, heritage, and collective memory, identifying them as foundational pillars for sustaining Manipur’s distinct historical legacy. Addressing an audience of cultural scholars, artists, and community members, the Governor noted that indigenous art forms are essential instruments through which a society preserves its historical consciousness and moral values across generations.
The Governor made these observations while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the first North East Waree Leeba Festival, 2026. The landmark five-day cultural event commenced at the Irom Meijrao Mamang Community Hall in Imphal West district. Organised by the Repertory of Waree Leeba, Khurai, in active collaboration with the Irom Meijrao Women for Cultural Centre, the regional gathering seeks to revive, preserve, and popularise the traditional Manipuri art of oral storytelling while fostering closer cultural integration throughout Northeast India.
Governor Bhalla highlighted the enduring relevance of traditional storytelling forms in contemporary society. He stated that Waree Leeba—a centuries-old classical solo storytelling performance unique to Manipur—serves multiple crucial purposes beyond recreational performance. The tradition simultaneously educates listeners, provides artistic entertainment, and instils ethical principles that remain deeply applicable to modern civic life. He remarked that keeping such traditions alive is indispensable for protecting Manipur’s cultural identity and collective historical remembrance against the pressures of rapid modernisation.
The Governor commended the Repertory of Waree Leeba for convening artists, scholars, and performers from across the Northeastern states. He expressed confidence that the inaugural festival marks the beginning of sustained, institutional efforts to safeguard this narrative art form and broaden regional partnerships. According to Bhalla, Waree Leeba represents a living repository of human wisdom through which community beliefs, ancestral knowledge, myths, and historical chronicles are transmitted from one generation to the next.
During the opening ceremony, Governor Bhalla paid floral tributes to the portraits of three departed Waree Leeba gurus, honouring their lifelong dedication to keeping the narrative form intact. In recognition of regional cultural solidarity, he also felicitated veteran storytelling exponents and gurus who travelled from Assam and Tripura to participate in the festival.
A central highlight of the inaugural session was a classical Waree Leeba recitation of an episode from the epic Mahabharata, performed by acclaimed master artist Shyamkanhai Singh. The Governor listened attentively to the presentation, subsequently praising Singh’s vocal control, expressive narration, and mastery of traditional storytelling conventions. Bhalla commended the artist for his capacity to animate classical literature and bring moral lessons to life through purely vocal and gestural virtuosity.
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The inaugural event was attended by Manipur Art and Culture Minister Kh. Loken Singh, prominent cultural practitioners, local leaders, and visiting delegations of artists from various Northeastern states. Over the course of the next five days, the festival will feature multiple narrative recitations, workshops, and discussions exploring the preservation of indigenous oral traditions.
